Portable drilling rig



Sept. 8, 1936.

C. A. HIRSCHBERG PORTABLE DRILLING RIG Filed July 13, 1933 FTC- l- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 8, 1936. c. A. HIRSCHBERG 2,053,665

PORTABLE DRILLING RIG Filed July 13, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gila 1118,915 fifimyszx's IN VEN TOR A RNEY p 1936- c. A. HIRSCHBERG PORTABLE DRILLING RIG Filed July 15, 1955' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'III/Illl Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE DRILLING RIG Virginia Application July 13, 1933, Serial No. 680,194

16 Claims.

This invention relates to portable drilling rigs, and more particularly to a driling rig designed for tunneling and an object of the invention is to provide a portable rig or carriage which carries a plurality of percussive rock drills or other tools.

The tools are so arranged that they may be operated singly or in unison if desired, and also to provide a drilling rig which may be easily moved to a face of the material through which the tunlo nel is being cut for positioning the drills in drilling position, or moved away from the face after drilling and during the blasting and mucking operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in

a drilling rig or carriage, the plurality of mountings for drills, each of which is adjustable vertically, horizontally, and about a vertical axis with respect to the carriage, means for securely locking the mountings in adjusted positions and g mechanical means for adjusting the mountings.

Primarily the object of the present invention is to provide a drilling rig for use in tunnels which will permit a maximum amount of work to be performed in a minimum amount of time with labor and other costs greatly reduced over the present method of drilling.

With these, and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction in combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing the portable drilling rig of the preferred form embodying the invention and the features formingthe invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the improved drilling rig showing it in a tunnel.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved drilling rig.

Fig. 3 is a detailed section through the drilling rig taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the drilling rig taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

45 Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical section through a part of the percussive drill supporting structure and taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detailed vertical section through a on the line s s of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 1-! of Fig. 2 and showing the part.

of the drilling supported adjusting mechanism.

part of the drill supporting structure and taken Fig. 8 is a horizontal. section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of a pressure fluid supplying manifold employed in the drilling rig. 5

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the pressure fluid supplying manifold.

Fig. 11 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a modified form of mounting for percussive drills as used in connection with 10 the portable drilling rig.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the modified form of mounting shown in Fig. 11 and taken on .the line ll-H of Fig. 11.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the im- 15 proved portable drilling rig forming the present invention is particularly designed to facilitate the drilling operations in the cutting or drilling of tunnels and which comprises a truck I having suitable wheels 2 thereon which are provided for traveling over the usual type of track 3 employed in tunnels for facilitating the mucking operation, or in other words, carrying away the material cut from the surface through which the tunnel is being cut. 25

The truck i has a frame work 4 supported thereon which comprises standards 5, platform 6, standards 1, and a second platform 8. While two platforms are shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that any number of platforms desired may be employed in the portable drilling rig without departing from the present invention.

Suitable adjustable drill supporting structures ID are carried by the platforms 6 and 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. These adjustable drill supporting structures may be mounted on the respective platforms 6 and 8 in positions most advantageous for the locating of the drills indicated at (A) to properly drill the tunnel and their specific location does not form any part of the present invention.

Each of the adjustable drill supporting structures It] comprises a vertical standard II which has rack teeth l2 extending vertically there along at diametrically opposed points on the standard. The location of the rack teeth l2 is'clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Braking pinions M are rotatably carried by the clamping shoes l5 and I6 and meshed with the racks l2 for providing a braking action on the vertical movements of the standard I I and permitting maximum control of the adjustment of the standard II. It is to be understood that the teeth of the pinions M are so spaced that as the pinions are brought inwardly towards the axis of the standof the cylinder ard l l and frictional engagement with the teeth of the racks 12 increases, and also that the pinions are not mounted to freely rotate but to provide a predetermined degree of braking resistance to the movement of the standard.

The clamping shoes l5 and I6 may be clamped tightly against each other and against the standard II by means of a handle l1 and screw 11' for locking the standard H in vertically adjusted positions.

The lower end of the standard ll projects into a cylinder l8 and it has a piston l9 mounted thereon which fits within the cylinder l8. An inlet for pressure fluid of any suitable type, preferably the air under pressure employed for operating the drills, is provided at the bottom 18, which inlet may be controlled by a suitable valve 2|. When it is desired to move the standard ll upwardly, the handle I1 is operated to release the gripping action of the shoes 15 and 16 on the standard and pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder 18 beneath the piston H? to move the standard ll upwardly to the desired position, the admission of pressure fluid to the cylinder is then cut off and the standard II is held in the desired position by again bringing the shoes l5 and I6 into gripping engagement with the standard. There is sufficient play or movement between the shoes l5 and I6, permitted by the bolt H", to allow the movement of the shoes into and out of gripping action with the standard ll without requiring adjustment of the bolt 11. The pressure fluid which has been admitted to the cylinder for the purpose of raising the standard may be confined in the cylinder l8 and gradually bled therefrom through an outlet 22 to permit the lowering of the piston IS in the cylinder l8 and consequently the lowering of the standard II. The gradual bleeding of the fluid pressure from the cylinder will prevent rapid dropping or falling of the standard H.

The clamping shoes l5 and I6 are supported from the horizontal supporting braces 23 to permit rotation of the standard ll about a vertical axis by means of suitable ring plates 24. The ring plates 24 are channelled as shown at 25 and ring flanges 26 formed on the shoes l5 and I6 slidably fit in the channel 25 to provide swivel connections between the shoes l5 and I6 and the ring plate 24 to permit the desired rotary movement of the standard I I. The same locking means l1 which serves to lock the standard ll against vertical movement also serves to lock it against rotary movement in that it will clamp the shoes l5 and I8 tightly together and clamp the flanges 26 tightly against the inner walls of the channels 25. It is to be understood, however, that other suitable locking means may be provided for locking the standard H against rotary movement if it is so desired, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the upper ends of the standard II are enlarged to form heads 21 or, if it is so desired, the heads 21 may be split members mounted upon the upper ends of the standard.

The heads 21 are substantially cylindrical in form through their major portions and are provided with horizontal openings 28 extending therethrough. Horizontally adjustable supporting bars 29 extend through the openings 28 and are held against rotary movement in the heads 21 by keys 30 and keyways 3|. The horizontal bars 29 have rack teeth 32 on their under side which mesh with pinions 33. The pinions 33 are mounted on shafts 34 which project out of the heads 21 and have wrench heads 35 formed on their outer ends by means of which the shaft 34 may be rotated for moving the horizontal bar 29. A brake shoe 36 is carried by the head 21 and engages the horizontal bar 29. An adjusting screw 31 is connected to the brake shoe 3B and has a wrench head 38 on its outer end. By adjustment of the screw 31 the brake shoe 36 may be clamped against the bar 29 for locking the bar in adjusted positions.

The percussive or pneumatic tools or rock drills, as indicated at (A) are connected by the usual type of trunnion 39 to carrying collars 40. The carrying collars 40 are split as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings and are clamped by means of clamping screws 4| and clamping handles 42 upon the adjustable carrying members 43. Each of the adjustable carrying members 43 is adjustably mounted upon one of the horizontal bars 29 and they are moved along the horizontal bars by means of pinions 44. The pinions 44 are mounted upon shafts 45, and meshed with the rack teeth 32 so that when the pinion 44 is rotated in either direction, the adjustable carrying member 43 may be moved in either direction along the horizontal bar 29 and in a horizontal plane. The carrying member 43 is lockable upon the horizontal bar 29 by a locking or brake shoe 46. The brake shoe 46 is movable into and out of braking or locking position by means of an adjusting screw 41. The wrench heads 35 and 38 and the wrench heads 48 and 49 formed on the shaft and the adjusting screw 41, respectively, are preferably all of the same size so that a single wrench may be employed both for the purpose of adjusting the carrying members, adjusting the position of the horizontal bars 29 and locking these respective members in their adjusted positions.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the split carrying collar 40 is mounted upon a circular surface on the carrying member 43 so that this collar 40 may be adjusted or moved in a rotary manner about the carrying member 43 for varying the angle of the longitudinal axis of the drill (A).

From the foregoing .lescription taken in connection with the drawings, it will be apparent that each of the drills (A) which is carried by one of D the adjustable drill supporting structures l0 may be adjusted vertically with respect to its supporting platform, horizontally by adjustment of the horizontal bar 29, also horizontally along the horizontal bar 29 by adjustment of the carrying member 43 and also it may be adjusted to vary the angle of the longitudinal axis of the drill by adjusting the carrying collar 40 about the carrying member 43. The horizontal bars 29 permit major horizontal adjustments of the carrying member 43 and thus after the drilling rig is setup, as for instance in the manner illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, the carrying members 43 may be adjusted horizontally along the bars 29 to permit the drilling of the successive necessary drill holes, without requiring adjustment of the horizontal bars until the member 43 has been moved to the limits of its movement upon the bar. After the member 43 has been moved to the limits of its movement along the bar 29, this bar may then be adjusted horizontally with respect to the standard I l and an additional row of holes drilled by adjustment of the member 43. After the desired number of drill holes have been drilled in one horizontal plane, the standard H may be adjusted vertically to position the drill (A) in a different horizontal plane for the drilling of a successive row of drill holes.

It will thus be apparent that all of the necessary drill holes may be drilled without requiring the taking down and the setting up of the rock drill, and with a minimum amount of manual labor. The adjustments, or movement of the drill from one position to another may be accomplished by a single man without any heavy lifting or any actual manual lifting of the drill and its supporting structure. Also, the drill may be moved into successive drilling positions in a minimum amount of time, thereby facilitating very materially the drilling of the tunnel.

The air under pressure or other suitable pressure fluid for operating the drills (A) and also for moving the pistons l9 may be supplied from a single manifold 50 which has direct connection through a suitable coupling with a source of supply of pressure fluid (not shown), a suitable number of outlets as indicated at 52 are provided on the manifold 50 for supplying the pressure fluid to the various drills and cylinders |8. An advantage of the manifold 50 is that it has a capacity in access of the momentary requirements of all the drills (A) and all of the cylinders I8 thereby insuring always suflicient pressure fluid to operate the drills and their adjusting mechanisms even though the compressor or source of supply of pressure fluid should momentarily fail.

The adjustable drill supporting structures heretofore described are mounted for drilling the various drill holes above the level of the lowermost platform of the portable rig and a slightly different type of supporting and adjusting structure is provided for supporting and adjusting the position of the drills (A) which are mounted below the lowermost platform 6 and drill holes at the bottom of the tunnel.

These different types of supporting and adjusting structures comprise crank bars 55. which have carrying members 56 mounted on their outer ends for horizontal adjustment therealong. The carrying members 56 carry split collars 51 on which the drills (A) are mounted and the carrying members 56 and collars 57 are in every detail similar to the carrying members 43 and the split collars 48, being adjustable along the outer end of the crank bars 55 through the medium of racks and pinions and guided in their movement by suitable keys which are indicated at 58.

The crank bars 55 have rack teeth 59 on their inner lower ends and they also have guiding keys 60 thereon. The guiding keys 66 travel in suitable keyways formed in the sleeves 6|. Suitable pinions 62 mesh with the rack teeth 59 for adjusting the position of the crank bars 55 horizontally. The pinions 62 are rotatable through the medium of shafts 63 which have wrench heads formed on their outer ends corresponding to the wrench heads 35 and 38.

The sleeves 6|. which carry the crank bars 59, are rotatably supported in collars 64. Worm gears 65 are mounted on the sleeves 6| and mesh with worms 66 so that by rotation of the worms 66 the sleeves 6| may be rotated about horizontal axis for rotating the crank bars 55 to vary the elevation of the outer drill carrying ends of the bars and consequently vary the elevation of the drills (A) carried by these bars. It is to be understood that the opening or cut out portion 62' in the sleeve 6| is of suflicient size and shape to permit rotation of the sleeve Without interference by the pinion 62.

The collars 64 each have a trunnion 61 formed thereon which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 68 to permit rotation of the collar 64, sleeve SI and consequently the crank bar 55 about a vertical axis. Brake shoes 69 are carried by the bearings 68 and are adjusted into or out of clamping or braking position by means of adjusting screws to lock the trunnion 61 against rotary movement in the bearings 68. Bearings 68 are each carried by a suitable under carriage or supporting structure U which is in turn supported in suspended position from the cross bars 23 by the standards 5.

From the description of these supporting structures which are suspended beneath the lower-most platform, it will be seen that the rock drills (A) which are supported by each of these structures may first be adjusted to vary the angle of the longitudinal axis of the drills with respect to the horizontal, by rotary adjustment of the collars 51 upon the carrying members 56; that they may be adjusted in the minor horizontal adjustments by means of the carrying members 56, while the major horizontal adjustments are provided by the horizontal adjustment of the crank bar 55 through the medium of the pinions 63 and racks 59. The rotation of the sleeves 6| by means of the worm 66 and worm gears 65 will permit variation of the elevation of the rock drills (A) through variation of the elevation of the outer ends of the crank bars, and the crank bars may be adjusted horizontally about vertical axis by rotation of the trunnions 61 in their bearings 68.

In Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings a modified structure for mounting the adjustable drill supporting structure is shown.

In these figures the adjustable drill supporting structures 80 are carried by suitable horizontal supporting plates 8|. The supporting plates 8| have depending substantially U-shaped extensions 82 formed on one of their ends which extend beneath the upper flange 83 on the carrying track 84. As clearly shown in Figure 11 of the drawings, the carrying track 84 is in the form of an I-beam and the flange 83 has a rack 85 formed on its outer surface. A pinion 86 is carried by the depending U-shaped extension 82 and meshes with the rack 85. The carrying shaft 81 of the pinion 86 has a wrench head 88 on its outer end by means of which the pinions may be rotated for moving the carrying plate 8| longitudinally along the supporting track 84. If it is so desired, antifriction rollers 89 may be mounted on the lower side of the U-shaped extension 86 and right over the upper surface of the lower foot of the I-beam 84 for relieving friction and facilitating the adjustment of the carrying plate 8| and the dri supporting structure 80.

The drill supporting structure 80 may be similar in construction to the drill supporting structure l0 and it is so shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. the platforms 6 and 8 are extended both laterally and horizontally of the truck I so as to provide standing room for the operators of the drills, also to provide storage space for the storage of drill steel, etc.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:.

1. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a plurality of tool mountings carried by said carriage, said mountings including vertically movable standards, and fluid pressure operated means for moving said standards upwardly, means swivelly connecting said standards to said carriage to permit rotary movement of the standards about their vertical axes, and means for locking said standards against vertical movement, said locking means when in locked position acting to prevent rotary movement of said standards.

2. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a plurality of tool mountings carried by said carriage, said mountings including vertically movable standards, horizontal bars adjustably carried by said standards, carrying members adjustably carried by said horizontal bars, racks on said horizontal bars, pinions carried by said carrying members and rotatable for moving the carrying members along said horizontal bars, and tool carrying split collars adjustably carried by said carrying members.

3. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage, said adjustable drill supporting structures comprising a standard, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, means for braking the vertical movement of said standard and means for locking said standard in adjusted positions.

4. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage, said adjustable drill supporting structures comprising a standard, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, means for braking the vertical movement of said standard, means for locking said standard in adjusted positions, a head upon the upper end of said standard, a horizontal bar carried by said head, means for adjusting said bar horizontally with regard to said head and means for locking said bars in adjusted positions.

5. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage, said adjustable drill supporting structures comprising a standard, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, means for braking the vertical movement of said standard, means for locking said standard in adjusted positions, a head upon the upper end of said standard, a horizontal bar carried by said head, a rack formed on said horizontal bar, a pinion carried by said head and meshing with said rack for moving said rack horizontally with respect to said standard.

6. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage, said adjustable drill supporting structures comprising a standard, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, means for braking the vertical movement of said standard, means for locking said standard in adjusted positions, a head upon the upper end of said standard, a horizontal bar carried by said head, a rack formed on said horizontal bar, a

' pinion carried by said head and meshing with said rack for moving said rack horizontally with respect to said standard, a carrying member mounted on said horizontal bar, a pinion carried by said carrying member for moving the carrying member longitudinally along the horizontal bar, and a drill carrying collar mounted on said carrying member.

'7. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a vertically movable standard carried by said carriage, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, clamping shoes for clamping-engagement with said standard, and means swivelly connecting said shoes to said carriage to permit rotary movement of the standard.

8. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a vertically movable standard carried by said carriage, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, rack teeth on said standard and braking pinions engaging said teeth to retard the movement of the standard.

9. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a vertically movable standard carried by said carriage, a cylinder on the carriage, a piston on said standard and movable in said cylinder whereby said standard may be moved upwardly by fluid pressure exerted against said piston, teeth on said standard, and braking pinions engaging said teeth to retard the movement of the standard.

10. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a vertically movable standard carried by said carriage, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standard upwardly, clamping shoes for clamping engagement with said standard, means swivelly connecting said shoes to said carriage to permit rotary movement of the standard,

teeth on the standard, and braking pinions carried by said shoes and engaging said teeth to retard the movement of the standard.

11. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a plurality of platforms carried by said carriage, a plurality of tool mountings carried by said platforms, said mountings including vertically movable standards, fluid pressure operated means for moving said standards upwardly, a pressure fluid manifold carried by one of said platforms, and connections from said manifold to said pressure operated means, and means for locking said standards against vertical movement, said locking means when in locked position acting to prevent rotary movement of the standards.

12. In a portable drilling rig, a carriage, a plurality of vertically spaced platforms carried by said carriage, a plurality of adjustable drill supporting structures carried by each of said platforms, the adjustable drill supporting structures carried by one platform being spaced horizontally from those on another platform, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage below the lowermost platform, whereby a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced holes may be drilled simultaneously.

13. In a portable drilling rig, a carriage, a plurality of vertically spaced platforms carried by said carriage, a plurality of adjustable drill supporting structures carried by each of said platforms, the adjustable drill supporting structures carried by one platform being spaced horizontally from those on another platform, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage below the lowermost platform, whereby a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced holes may be drilled simultaneously, said platform-carried drill-supporting structures each including vertically adjustable standards and horizontally adjustable bars, and a drill carrying collar adjustably carried by each of said horizontally adjustable bars.

14. In a portable drilling rig, a carriage, a plurality of vertically spaced platforms carried by said carriage, a plurality of adjustable drill supporting structures carried by each of said platforms, the adjustable drill supporting structures carried by one platform being spaced horizontally from those on another platform, and adjustable drill supporting structures carried by said carriage below the lowermost platform, whereby a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced holes may be drilled simultaneously, said platform-carried drill-supporting structures each including vertically adjustable standards and horizontally adjustable bars, and a drill carrying collar adjustably carried by each of said horizontally adjustable bars, and means swivelly connecting said standards to said platforms.

15. In a portable drilling rig, a movable carriage, a plurality of tool mountings carried by said carriage, said mountings including vertically movable standards, means swivelly connecting said standards to said carriage to permit rotary movement of the standards about their vertical axes, and means for locking said standards against vertical movement, said locking means when in locked position acting to prevent rotary movement of the standards.

16. In a portable drilling rig. a carriage, a plurality of vertically spaced platforms carried by said platforms. pistons on said standards andmovable in said cylinders whereby said standards may be moved upwardly by fluid pressure exerted against said pistons, and means for controlling the bleeding of pressure fluid from said cylinders to control the speed of downward movement of said standards.

CHARLES A. I-IIRSCI-IBERG. 

